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Home Office

Answer

Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will ensure that future organisational change in the probation service does not have a negative impact on (a) staff morale and (b) industrial relations. [205317] Paul Goggins: We recognise the importance of positive engagement by staff, and the unions that represent them, in the development of National Offender Management Service (NOMS). We have established a Joint Consultative Council (JCC) to provide a forum for communication, discussion, consultation and early information sharing between NOMS, all recognised trade unions and the Probation Boards Association (PBA). The JCC met on 12 November and 17 December. We will also continue to invest in the probation service and, in particular to expand the workforce. In 1997 the service employed 13,968 staff. This had risen to 19,119 by 2004 and we plan to have around 21,000 in employment by April 2006. The JCC is additional to existing methods of communication, consultation and negotiation in the National Probation Service (NPS). The principal industrial relations forum for the NPS is the National Negotiating Council (NCC) which is comprised of the recognised trades unions in the NPS, the PBA and the National Probation Directorate. In addition there are forums representing senior managers and chief officers. The NNC will be critical to the successful implementation of any changes and the Home Office and NPD are committed which is designed to preserve and enhance staff morale in the service and promote a positive climate of industrial relations. The NOMS Change Programme includes a Human Resources Sub-Programme, specifically intended to deliver policies, strategies and frameworks which will provide members of staff with the culture, values, skills and motivation required for the new organisation and new ways of working.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

205317; 430 c977-8W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Industrial relations National Offender Management Service Working conditions Reorganisation

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk